Napo assistant general secretary Jonathan Ledger said: “If Cafcass simply tows the Treasury line it would make the offer bordering on the insulting.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Limiting pay increases to 2 per cent will just undo much of the work that has been done in the past few years in raising pay levels to improve recruitment and retention.”

How salaries are agreedPay for council social workers is negotiated between employers and unions through the national joint council for local government services. A three-year deal was negotiated in 2004, with rises of 2.75 per cent in 2004-5 and 2.95 per cent in 2005-6 and 2006-7.

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